Title: The Permian-Triassic Transition in Antarctica: Evaluating the Rates and Variability of Carbon Isotope Fluctuations in Terrestrial
Organic Matter

Description:

Abstract:

This project studies the Permian-Triassic extinction event as recorded in sedimentary rocks from the Transantarctic Mountains
of Antarctica. Two hundred and fifty million years ago most life on Earth was wiped out in a geologic instant. The cause is
a subject of great debate. Researchers have identified a unique stratigraphic section near Shackleton glacier laid down during
the extinction event. Organic matter from these deposits will be analyzed by density gradient centrifugation (DGC), which
will offer detailed information on the carbon isotope composition. The age of these layers will be precisely dated by U/Pb-zircon-dating
of intercalated volcanics. Combined, these results will offer detailed constraints on the timing and duration of carbon isotope
excursions during the extinction, and offer insight into the coupling of marine and terrestrial carbon cycles. The broader
impacts of this project include graduate and undergraduate student research, K12 outreach and teacher involvement, and societal
relevance of the results, since the P/T extinction may have been caused by phenomena such as methane release, which could
accompany global warming.